Catholic Church flirts with green tech of the solar sort

Poking around the Web looking for green technology news on an otherwise quiet Thanksgiving weekend, when I came across this item about solar panels being installed in Vatican City. Apparently, the new Roman Catholic pope has a green bent.

Poking around the Web looking for green technology news on an otherwise quiet Thanksgiving weekend, when I came across this item about solar panels being installed in Vatican City. Apparently, the new Roman Catholic pope has a green bent.

According to news reports, the first phase of the solar project will see 2,400 panels donated by Solarworld of Germany, which will cover the 5,000-square meter roof of the Paul VI auditorium. Vatican City reports that the panels will contribute about 300 megawatts of electricity per year, saving about 80 metric tons of oil and 225 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

The Catholic Church hopes to use renewable energy for about 20 percent of its energy needs by 2020.